That_DT0 constant_AJ0 chatter_NN1 seemed_VVD to_TO0 be_VBI foreshadowing_VVG for_PRP a_AT0 storied_AJ0 career_NN1 ._SENT Rooks_NN2 has_VHZ a_AT0 relentlessly_AV0 busy_AJ0 schedule_NN1 anchoring_NN1 ,_PUN reporting_VVG and_CJC hosting_VVG shows_NN2 for_PRP Bleacher_NP0 Report_NN1 and_CJC Turner_NP0 Sports_NN2 ;_PUN reporting_VVG courtside_NN1 this_DT0 winter_NN1 for_PRP actor_NN1 Michael_NP0 B_NP0 ._SENT Jordan_NP0 's_POS new_AJ0 HBCU_NN1 basketball_NN1 showcase_NN1 Hoop_NN1 Dreams_NN2 Classic_NN1 ;_PUN hosting_VVG NBA_NN1 Twitter_NN1 Live_VVB during_PRP the_AT0 2022_CRD All-Star_AJ0 weekend_NN1 ;_PUN making_VVG a_AT0 cameo_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 upcoming_AJ0 film_NN1 National_AJ0 Champions_NN2 ;_PUN and_CJC starring_VVG in_PRP the_AT0 new_AJ0 short_AJ0 promotional_AJ0 film_NN1 Blind_AJ0 Faith_NN1 for_PRP Off-White_AJ0 and_CJC Jordan_NP0 Brand_NP0 ,_PUN where_AVQ her_DPS character_NN1 zooms_VVZ around_PRP hairpin_NN1 turns_VVZ on_PRP a_AT0 motorcycle_NN1 and_CJC then_AV0 kicks_VVZ the_AT0 a--_NN1 of_PRF who_PNQ seems_VVZ to_TO0 be_VBI the_AT0 bad_AJ0 guy_NN1 ._SENT And_CJC she_PNP has_VHZ n't_XX0 even_AV0 turned_VVN 30_CRD yet_AV0 ._SENT 
"_PUQ I_PNP 'm_VBB just_AV0 getting_VVG started_VVD ,_PUN "_PUQ Rooks_NN2 says_VVZ ._SENT 
Add_VVB in_PRP the_AT0 nearly_AV0 1_CRD ,_PUN 500_CRD interviews_NN2 and_CJC sports_NN2 reports_VVZ she_PNP 's_VBZ aired_VVN in_PRP less_AV0 than_CJS a_AT0 decade_NN1 —_PUN many_DT0 of_PRF them_PNP with_PRP jaw-dropping_AJ0 revelations_NN2 from_PRP superstar_NN1 athletes_NN2 ,_PUN celebrities_NN2 and_CJC entertainers_NN2 —_PUN and_CJC it_PNP 's_VBZ hard_AJ0 to_TO0 deny_VVI the_AT0 impact_NN1 she_PNP 's_VBZ making_VVG in_PRP the_AT0 sports_NN2 world_NN1 ._SENT 
Rooks_NN2 has_VHZ interviewed_VVN and_CJC held_VVD court_NN1 with_PRP the_AT0 legends_NN2 —_PUN LeBron_NP0 James_NP0 ,_PUN Shaquille_NP0 O'Neal_NP0 ,_PUN Kevin_NP0 Durant_NP0 and_CJC Kobe_NP0 Bryant_NP0 ,_PUN just_AV0 to_TO0 name_VVI a_AT0 few_DT0 ._SENT Many_DT0 of_PRF her_DPS interviews_NN2 have_VHB gone_VVN viral_AJ0 because_CJS of_PRF her_DPS ability_NN1 to_TO0 get_VVI her_DPS guests_NN2 to_TO0 talk_VVI candidly_AV0 about_PRP real_AJ0 life_NN1 ._SENT During_PRP a_AT0 recent_AJ0 interview_NN1 ,_PUN WNBA_NP0 champion_NN1 Candace_NP0 Parker_NP0 dropped_VVD a_AT0 bombshell_NN1 when_CJS she_PNP told_VVD Rooks_NN2 the_AT0 only_AJ0 reason_NN1 she_PNP did_VDD n't_XX0 make_VVI the_AT0 2016_CRD Olympics_NN2 team_NN1 is_VBZ because_CJS coach_NN1 Geno_NP0 Auriemma_NN1 does_VDZ n't_XX0 like_VVI her_PNP ._SENT Dwayne_NP0 Wade_NP0 once_AV0 confessed_VVD to_PRP Rooks_NN2 that_CJT he_PNP ca_VM0 n't_XX0 watch_VVI his_DPS wife_NN1 ,_PUN Gabrielle_NP0 Union_NN1 ,_PUN in_PRP on-screen_AJ0 love_NN1 scenes_NN2 ._SENT And_CJC Atlanta_NP0 Hawks_NN2 guard_NN1 Lou_NP0 Williams_NP0 admitted_VVD he_PNP cried_VVD when_CJS the_AT0 Clippers_NN2 traded_VVD him_PNP and_CJC told_VVD Rooks_NN2 he_PNP 's_VBZ planning_VVG to_TO0 retire_VVI ._SENT In_PRP an_AT0 industry_NN1 where_AVQ success_NN1 is_VBZ measured_VVN by_PRP access_NN1 and_CJC exclusives_NN2 ,_PUN Rooks_NN2 is_VBZ applying_VVG pressure_NN1 ,_PUN without_PRP even_AV0 trying_VVG ._SENT 
"_PUQ I_PNP do_VDB n't_XX0 think_VVI about_PRP it_PNP like_PRP that_DT0 ,_PUN "_PUQ she_PNP says_VVZ ._SENT "_PUQ Success_NN1 for_PRP me_PNP is_VBZ n't_XX0 about_PRP accolades_NN2 or_CJC recognition_NN1 ._SENT It_PNP 's_VBZ about_PRP getting_VVG people_NN0 to_TO0 trust_VVI me_PNP ,_PUN to_TO0 open_VVI up_AVP and_CJC have_VHI these_DT0 conversations_NN2 with_PRP me_PNP because_CJS I_PNP care_VVB about_PRP what_DTQ they_PNP have_VHB to_TO0 say_VVI ._SENT "_PUQ 
Her_DPS technique_NN1 was_VBD on_PRP full_AJ0 display_NN1 last_ORD year_NN1 when_CJS she_PNP was_VBD one_CRD of_PRF only_AV0 a_AT0 few_DT0 journalists_NN2 selected_VVN to_TO0 cover_VVI the_AT0 NBA_NN1 from_PRP inside_AV0 the_AT0 bubble_NN1 at_PRP Disney_NP0 World_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ Every_AT0 single_AJ0 pressure_NN1 point_NN1 in_PRP society_NN1 was_VBD cooking_VVG in_PRP that_DT0 bubble_NN1 from_PRP the_AT0 pandemic_AJ0 to_PRP the_AT0 social-justice_AJ0 movements_NN2 happening_VVG ,_PUN so_CJS my_DPS stories_NN2 could_VM0 n't_XX0 just_AV0 be_VBI about_PRP the_AT0 games_NN2 and_CJC wins_NN2 and_CJC losses_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ Rooks_NN2 says_VVZ ._SENT "_PUQ I_PNP felt_VVD a_AT0 responsibility_NN1 to_TO0 talk_VVI to_PRP the_AT0 players_NN2 about_PRP their_DPS experiences_NN2 inside_PRP the_AT0 bubble_NN1 and_CJC to_TO0 take_VVI them_PNP away_AV0 from_PRP the_AT0 isolation_NN1 ._SENT I_PNP asked_VVD questions_NN2 to_TO0 bring_VVI some_DT0 levity_NN1 to_PRP a_AT0 situation_NN1 that_CJT was_VBD really_AV0 heavy_AJ0 for_PRP a_AT0 lot_NN1 of_PRF people_NN0 ._SENT "_PUQ 
Rooks_NN2 's_POS insightful_AJ0 coverage_NN1 landed_VVD her_PNP a_AT0 side_NN1 gig_NN1 as_PRP the_AT0 featured_AJ0 writer_NN1 for_PRP GQ_NP0 magazine_NN1 's_POS monumental_AJ0 "_PUQ Men_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 Year_NN1 "_PUQ Issue_NN1 ._SENT Her_DPS article_NN1 about_PRP the_AT0 NBA_NN1 bubble_NN1 gave_VVD an_AT0 in-depth_AJ0 look_NN1 at_PRP how_AVQ strange_AJ0 the_AT0 start_NN1 of_PRF that_DT0 experiment_NN1 was_VBD ,_PUN but_CJC how_AVQ beautiful_AJ0 and_CJC life-changing_AJ0 it_PNP became_VVD for_PRP many_DT0 who_PNQ were_VBD there_EX0 ._SENT 
Rooks_NN2 's_POS style_NN1 is_VBZ natural_AJ0 and_CJC thorough_AJ0 ._SENT And_CJC her_DPS research_NN1 is_VBZ extensive_AJ0 —_PUN she_PNP comes_VVZ prepared_AJ0 with_PRP facts_NN2 ,_PUN stats_NN2 ,_PUN honest_AJ0 questions_NN2 and_CJC no_AT0 fear_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ My_DPS dad_NN1 used_VVD to_TO0 write_VVI me_PNP a_AT0 letter_NN1 every_AT0 day_NN1 before_CJS he_PNP left_VVD for_PRP work_NN1 ._SENT Sometimes_AV0 it_PNP would_VM0 just_AV0 say_VVI ,_PUN '_PUQ Work_VVB hard_AV0 ,_PUN '_PUQ or_CJC ,_PUN '_PUQ Do_VDB n't_XX0 be_VBI complacent_AJ0 ._SENT '_PUQ And_CJC he_PNP would_VM0 ask_VVI me_PNP every_AT0 single_AJ0 day_NN1 ,_PUN '_PUQ O.K._AV0 ,_PUN are_VBB you_PNP going_VVG to_TO0 be_VBI a_AT0 leader_NN1 or_CJC a_AT0 follower_NN1 ?_SENT '_PUQ and_CJC I_PNP 'd_VM0 have_VHI to_TO0 tell_VVI him_PNP how_AVQ I_PNP would_VM0 lead_VVI ._SENT "_PUQ She_PNP says_VVZ that_CJT built_VVD her_DPS confidence_NN1 and_CJC trained_VVD her_PNP to_TO0 look_VVI for_PRP ways_NN2 to_TO0 connect_VVI with_PRP people_NN0 ._SENT "_PUQ My_DPS parents_NN2 taught_VVD me_PNP to_TO0 enjoy_VVI people_NN0 and_CJC to_TO0 never_AV0 feel_VVI nervous_AJ0 when_CJS I_PNP 'm_VBB speaking_VVG ._SENT That_DT0 sticks_VVZ with_PRP me_PNP today_AV0 ._SENT "_PUQ 
She_PNP comes_VVZ from_PRP a_AT0 family_NN1 of_PRF committed_AJ0 sports_NN2 fans_NN2 ._SENT Rooks_NN2 grew_VVD up_AVP in_PRP Georgia_NP0 when_CJS Michael_NP0 Vick_NP0 was_VBD Atlanta_NP0 's_POS savior_NN1 ._SENT Her_DPS dad_NN1 and_CJC uncles_NN2 played_VVD sports_NN2 ,_PUN her_DPS mom_NN1 loved_VVD going_VVG to_PRP games_NN2 ._SENT "_PUQ [_PUL Sports_NN2 have_VHB ]_PUR always_AV0 been_VBN a_AT0 part_NN1 of_PRF my_DPS life_NN1 for_PRP as_AV0 long_AJ0 as_CJS I_PNP can_VM0 remember_VVI ,_PUN "_PUQ she_PNP says_VVZ ._SENT 
Her_DPS family_NN1 tree_NN1 is_VBZ ripe_AJ0 with_PRP star_AJ0 athletes_NN2 ,_PUN too_AV0 ._SENT Her_DPS dad_NN1 ,_PUN Thomas_NP0 ,_PUN was_VBD a_AT0 record-setting_AJ0 running_NN1 back_AVP at_PRP the_AT0 University_NN1 of_PRF Illinois_NP0 ,_PUN and_CJC she_PNP 's_VHZ got_VVN two_CRD uncles_NN2 who_PNQ played_VVD professional_AJ0 sports_NN2 :_PUN Baseball_NN1 Hall_NN1 of_PRF Famer_NP0 Lou_NP0 Brock_NP0 ,_PUN and_CJC NFL_NP0 veteran_NN1 Marv_NP0 Woodson_NP0 ._SENT Somehow_AV0 ,_PUN the_AT0 sports_NN2 phenom_NN1 gene_NN1 skipped_VVD her_PNP ._SENT "_PUQ I_PNP played_VVD soccer_NN1 growing_VVG up_AVP and_CJC ran_VVD track_NN1 and_CJC played_VVD tennis_NN1 in_PRP high_AJ0 school_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC I_PNP knew_VVD I_PNP was_VBD n't_XX0 going_VVG to_TO0 be_VBI a_AT0 standout_NN1 ._SENT But_CJC in_PRP a_AT0 weird_AJ0 way_NN1 ,_PUN I_PNP wanted_VVD to_TO0 be_VBI a_AT0 star_NN1 ,_PUN too_AV0 ._SENT So_AV0 ,_PUN I_PNP played_VVD to_PRP my_DPS strength_NN1 and_CJC focused_VVN on_PRP talking_VVG ._SENT "_PUQ 
Rooks_NN2 launched_VVD her_DPS career_NN1 in_PRP 2012_CRD while_CJS a_AT0 junior_NN1 at_PRP the_AT0 University_NN1 of_PRF Illinois_NP0 ._SENT She_PNP and_CJC a_AT0 friend_NN1 somehow_AV0 obtained_VVN an_AT0 NBA_NN1 press_NN1 credential_NN1 and_CJC drove_VVD from_PRP Champaign_NN1 to_PRP Orlando_NP0 to_TO0 cover_VVI the_AT0 NBA_NN1 All-Star_AJ0 weekend_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ I_PNP interviewed_VVD anyone_PNI I_PNP could_VM0 to_TO0 build_VVI my_DPS reel_NN1 ._SENT Fox_NP0 Sports_NN2 /_PUN replaced-dns_NN2 saw_VVD my_DPS stuff_NN1 and_CJC hired_VVD me_PNP ,_PUN and_CJC I_PNP finally_AV0 started_VVD getting_VVG paid_VVN ._SENT "_PUQ 
From_PRP there_AV0 she_PNP started_VVD working_VVG with_PRP the_AT0 Big_AJ0 Ten_CRD Network_NN1 while_CJS still_AV0 in_PRP school_NN1 and_CJC landed_VVD a_AT0 full-time_AJ0 job_NN1 with_PRP the_AT0 network_NN1 when_CJS she_PNP graduated_VVD ._SENT 
"_PUQ I_PNP think_VVB one_CRD thing_NN1 that_CJT set_VVD me_PNP apart_AV0 from_PRP everyone_PNI else_AV0 then_AV0 and_CJC now_AV0 ,_PUN is_VBZ that_CJT I_PNP go_VVB into_PRP every_AT0 interview_NN1 wanting_VVG to_TO0 unlock_VVI something_PNI new_AJ0 ,_PUN "_PUQ Rooks_NN2 says_VVZ ._SENT "_PUQ What_DTQ have_VHB I_PNP not_XX0 heard_VVN them_PNP discuss_VVI ?_SENT What_DTQ story_NN1 have_VHB they_PNP not_XX0 told_VVN ?_SENT Or_CJC ,_PUN we_PNP only_AV0 know_VVB a_AT0 piece_NN1 of_PRF this_DT0 ,_PUN I_PNP want_VVB them_PNP to_TO0 expand_VVI on_PRP it_PNP ._SENT "_PUQ 
Though_CJS she_PNP 's_VBZ riding_VVG a_AT0 wave_NN1 of_PRF popularity_NN1 ,_PUN Rooks_NN2 remains_NN2 grounded_VVN and_CJC celebrates_VVZ the_AT0 accomplished_AJ0 sisterhood_NN1 of_PRF Black_AJ0 women_NN2 in_PRP sports_NN2 journalism_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ I_PNP 'm_VBB so_AV0 proud_AJ0 of_PRF all_DT0 of_PRF us_PNP who_PNQ are_VBB here_AV0 and_CJC for_PRP those_DT0 coming_VVG up_AVP next_ORD because_CJS we_PNP 're_VBB all_DT0 so_AV0 special_AJ0 ,_PUN so_AV0 talented_AJ0 and_CJC good_AJ0 at_PRP what_DTQ we_PNP do_VDB ,_PUN "_PUQ she_PNP says_VVZ ._SENT 
"_PUQ I_PNP saw_VVD Forbes_NP0 '_POS 30_CRD Under_PRP 30_CRD and_CJC it_PNP stung_VVD for_PRP a_AT0 second_ORD because_CJS so_AV0 many_DT0 of_PRF us_PNP never_AV0 make_VVB it_PNP on_PRP these_DT0 lists_NN2 ._SENT And_CJC then_AV0 I_PNP thought_VVD ,_PUN this_DT0 is_VBZ small_AJ0 potatoes_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 impact_NN1 we_PNP make_VVB in_PRP people_NN0 's_POS lives_NN2 means_VVZ so_AV0 much_AV0 more_AV0 ._SENT I_PNP 've_VHB carved_VVN a_AT0 lane_NN1 for_PRP myself_PNX that_CJT ca_VM0 n't_XX0 be_VBI measured_VVN by_PRP anyone_PNI else_AV0 ._SENT The_AT0 work_NN1 that_CJT I_PNP do_VDB ,_PUN the_AT0 people_NN0 who_PNQ trust_VVB me_PNP enough_AV0 to_TO0 talk_VVI to_PRP me_PNP ,_PUN and_CJC the_AT0 people_NN0 who_PNQ enjoy_VVB the_AT0 conversations_NN2 we_PNP have_VHB will_VM0 always_AV0 be_VBI my_DPS focus_NN1 ._SENT And_CJC for_PRP me_PNP that_DT0 's_VBZ everything_PNI and_CJC enough_AV0 ._SENT "_PUQ 
